Effective anti-bacteria and anti-viral air treatment device

Abstract

The invention provides an air treatment device (100) configured to deactivate one or more of bacteria and viruses from air, the device (100) comprising a deactivating material (121) comprising for at least 80 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond, the air treatment device (100) further comprising a gas flow generation device (130), wherein the air treatment device (100) is configured to provide said deactivating material (121) into a space with an emission rate (S) of at maximum 250 mg/h from a release area (1112).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An air treatment device configured to deactivate one or more of bacteria and viruses from air, the device comprising a deactivating material comprising for at least 80 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond,
 the air treatment device comprising:
 a gas flow generation device configured to control the emission of said deactivating material into a space, wherein the deactivating material is entrained by a gas flow generated by the gas flow generation device within the air treatment device, 
 a device chamber with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the air treatment device in operation configured to comprise the deactivating material at least partially enclosed by the device chamber, 
 a deactivating material unit situated within the device chamber, configured to host the deactivating material, the deactivating material unit comprising an opening in direct fluid contact with the device chamber, 
 
 wherein the air treatment device is configured to provide said deactivating material into said space with an emission rate (S) of at maximum 250 mg/h from a release area. 
 
     
     
       2. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow generation device is configured to introduce air from the space via the inlet opening into the device chamber and to transport at least part of the deactivating material with the air via the outlet opening into the space, wherein the air treatment device is configured to provide said deactivating material into the space with an emission rate (S) of at maximum 250 mg/h from said outlet opening. 
     
     
       3. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating material comprises for at least 95 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond, wherein the deactivating material has a boiling point selected from the range of 150-300° C. or has a boiling point range at least partly overlapping with said range of 150-300° C., and wherein the deactivating material comprises one or more of eucalyptol (1,8-cineol) and thymol. 
     
     
       4. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , complying with one or more of the following conditions (i) having a controllable emission rate (S) and (ii) wherein the air treatment device is limited at an emission rate (S) selected from the range of 0.5-50 mg/h from said release area. 
     
     
       5. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of release areas, wherein the air treatment device is configured to provide said deactivating material into the space with said emission rate (S) from each of said release areas. 
     
     
       6. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating material unit is configured as refillable unit, and wherein the deactivating material is comprised by a deactivating material cartridge. 
     
     
       7. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow generation device comprises an ionic wind generator. 
     
     
       8. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating material comprises for at least 90 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond. 
     
     
       9. The air treatment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating material comprises for at least 98 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond. 
     
     
       10. An air treatment system comprising:
 (i) an air treatment device configured to deactivate one or more of bacteria and viruses from air, 
 the device comprising a deactivating material comprising for at least 80 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond, 
 the air treatment device further comprising:
 a gas flow generation device configured to control the emission of said deactivating material into a space, wherein the deactivating material is entrained by a gas flow generated by the gas flow generation device within the air treatment device, 
 a device chamber with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the air treatment device in operation configured to comprise the deactivating material at least partially enclosed by the device chamber, 
 a deactivating material unit situated within the device chamber, configured to host the deactivating material, the deactivating material unit comprising an opening in direct fluid contact with the device chamber, 
 
 wherein the air treatment device is configured to provide said deactivating material into said space with an emission rate (S) of at maximum 250 mg/h from a release area, and 
 (ii) a control unit configured to control the emission rate (S). 
 
     
     
       11. The air treatment system according to  claim 10 , configured to maintain a concentration of the deactivating material in air in the space at a level selected from the range of 0.001-1 mg/m 3 . 
     
     
       12. The air treatment system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense one or more of (i) a concentration of a component in air of the deactivating material in a space, (ii) an ultra fine particles concentration in air in a space, (iii) a conversion product concentration in a space, and (iv) another physical or chemical parameter in said space, and wherein the control unit is configured to control the emission rate (S) as function of a sensor signal of said sensor and a corresponding predetermined value for one or more of said component, said ultra fine particles, said conversion product, and said physical or chemical parameter. 
     
     
       13. A kit of parts comprising:
 (i) an air treatment device configured to deactivate one or more of bacteria and viruses from air, the air treatment device comprising a deactivating material comprising for at least 80 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond, 
 the air treatment device further comprising:
 a gas flow generation device configured to control the emission of said deactivating material into a space, wherein the deactivating material is entrained by a gas flow generated by the gas flow generation device within the air treatment device, 
 a device chamber with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the air treatment device in operation configured to comprise the deactivating material at least partially enclosed by the device chamber, 
 a deactivating material unit situated within the device chamber configured to host the deactivating material, the deactivating material unit comprising an opening in direct fluid contact with the device chamber, wherein the deactivating material unit is configured as a refillable unit configured to host one or more of said cartridges, and 
 
 wherein the air treatment device is configured to provide said deactivating material into said space with an emission rate (S) of at maximum 250 mg/h from a release area, and 
 (ii) a plurality of cartridges comprising said deactivating material. 
 
     
     
       14. The kit of parts according to  claim 13 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the emission rate (S). 
     
     
       15. A cartridge comprising a deactivating material for use in an air treatment device, the device configured to deactivate one or more of bacteria and viruses from air, the deactivating material comprising at least 80 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond,
 the air treatment device comprising:
 a gas flow generation device configured to control the emission of said deactivating material into a space, wherein the deactivating material is entrained by a gas flow generated by the gas flow generation device within the air treatment device, 
 a device chamber with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the air treatment device in operation configured to comprise the deactivating material at least partially enclosed by the device chamber, 
 a deactivating material unit situated within the device chamber configured to host the deactivating material, the deactivating material unit comprising an opening in direct fluid contact with the device chamber, the deactivating material being at least partially enclosed by the device chamber, 
 
 wherein the air treatment device is configured to provide said deactivating material into said space with an emission rate (S) of at maximum 250 mg/h from a release area. 
 
     
     
       16. The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the deactivating material comprises for at least 95 wt. % of one or more of said terpenes and terpenoids. 
     
     
       17. The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the deactivating material comprises for at least 80 wt. % of one or more of Menthol, Isomenthol, Neomenthol, Neoisomenthol, Menthone, Isomenthone, Eucalyptol (1,8-cineol), 1,4-cineol, m-Cymene, p-Cymene, Carvacrol, Thymol, p-Cymen-8-ol, Cuminaldehyde, Cuminylalcohol, Iridoid, and Seco-iridoid. 
     
     
       18. A method for deactivating one or more of bacteria and viruses from air in a closed air space, the method comprising:
 providing an air treatment device into said closed air space, wherein said air treatment device includes a device chamber with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and a deactivating material unit situated within the device chamber configured to host the deactivating material, the deactivating material unit comprising an opening in direct fluid contact with the device chamber, 
 arranging a deactivating material into a deactivating material enclosure partially enclosed by the device chamber of the air treatment device, and 
 activating a gas flow generation unit of the air treatment device to control the emission of said deactivating material into said closed air space with an emission rate of at maximum 250 mg/h from a release area, wherein said activation comprises introducing external air into the device via said inlet opening and transporting at least part of the deactivating material with the air via the outlet opening, 
 wherein said deactivating material comprises at least 80 wt. % of one or more of a terpene and a terpenoid having no aliphatic unsaturated bond, with a concentration of the deactivating material in air in said space at a level selected from the range of 0.001-1 mg/m 3 . 
 
     
     
       19. The method, according to  claim 18 , wherein the deactivating material comprises one or more of Menthol, Isomenthol, Neomenthol, Neoisomenthol, Menthone, Isomenthone, Eucalyptol (1,8-cineol), 1,4-cineol, m-Cymene, p-Cymene, Carvacrol, Thymol, p-Cymen-8-ol, Cuminaldehyde, Cuminylalcohol, Iridoid, and Seco-iridoid. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising additionally controlling the emission of said deactivating material into said closed air space via a heater unit.